Recent Updates

20182nd NovemberUpdate to Sophia Whiting 1858-1940. Death date and extra children.25th OctoberUpdate to Elizabeth Whiting (Shipp) 1863-1912. Pictures of her daughter Kate and son-in-law Charles Norman, thanks to Colin Norman.Update to Minnie Annie Whiting 1856-1928. Her second husband Alexander Webb was in fact the son of Barnabas Webb of diary fame. Thanks to Sheila Marsh for pointing this out.16th OctoberUpdate to Elizabeth Whiting (Shipp) 1863-1912. More on her children, several of which were known by different names.29th SeptemberUpdate to Boaz Whiting 1839-1911. Extra details from death certs for him and his wives courtesy of Sheila Marsh. Update to Mary Ann Whiting 1866-1947. Thanks again to Sheila Marsh.17th AugustUpdate to George Whiting 1867-1940. Details for death of 1st wife Elizabeth Webb from GRO PDF death cert.14th AugustUpdates to Daniel Whiting 1783-1854, John Whiting c.1785-1862, Elizabeth Hilsdon c.1750-1842, Elizabeth Poole c.1816-1867. Details from GRO PDF death certs.11th AugustA step further back for the Whitings? The marriage of Daniel Whiting and Sarah Bridge in 1718 make them a good fit to be the parents of Daniel Whiting c.1725-1782. Worth a mention as they are available to find on several family history websites. A work in progress, but if they are Daniel's parents, then we are back into the 17th Century at last...2nd AugustThree more gone from the 'Missing Whitings' list; Margaret Annie Whiting 1880-1971, who was last seen on the 1911 census living in London with husband Harry A Taylor, turns up in Canada when immigration there was reaching its peak in 1912-13. Thanks to Darel on findagrave for the photo.Mary Ann Whiting 1870-1947 has been found on the 1939 Register and can be tracked down in Enfield through Electoral Registers.Florence Ethel Whiting 1896-1966 moved down to West Ham with her mother and step-father and married there in 1921. She also turns up on the 1939 Register.1st AugustThe diaries of Barnabas Webb; a gift that keeps on giving.There is a lesser-known second diary kept at Essex Record Office entitled 'a chronological account of deaths, murders, etc.,' dating from 1826-1850.In it, there are some mini-bios of all manner of Haverhill inhabitants. Seriously recommended if you have ancestors from Haverhill who died in this period.The following Whitings get a mention:Update to James Whiting c.1754-1827. Daniel Whiting c.1752-1830. New entry for Daniel Whiting 1816-1833.31st JulyUpdate to Albert William Whiting 1890-1957: 1939 Register. Update to Albert Whiting 1873-1940: 1939 Register. Update for Elsie May Whiting 1908-1991. Her life after the 1911 census is revealed.30th JulyUpdate to Rose Whiting 1880-1963. 1939 Register shows her living in Leamington Spa. Update to Rose Lily Whiting 1886-1951 and Alice Whiting 1880-1961 - 1939 Register shows them at 93 Burton End.Update to Walter Whiting 1858-1945 and Minnie Annie Whiting 1888-1981, both living at 61 North Circular Rd, Edmonton, on the 1939 Register. Update to May Lily Whiting 1891-1952: 1939 Register. Update to Hilda Agnes Irene Whiting 1893-1949: 1939 Register.3rd FebruaryThanks to John Orchard, who has informed me that he's discovered DNA evidence that supports the attribution of Isaac Argent as the father of Charlotte Whiting 1867-1943.1st JanuaryHappy New Year! Good luck with tracking down your ancestors in the year ahead.201723rd DecemberMerry Christmas to all :)12th DecemberIn Memoriam: Colin Farrant, who contributed to several pages on this site, and who passed away not long ago. Thanks to Karen Farrant for getting in touch, and sorry for not updating the site to reflect this sooner.5th MarchUpdate to Arthur Whiting 1892-1949. Thanks to Wendy Sims for letting me know that her father Kenneth, Arthur's youngest son, who died recently aged 86 was missing from this page.31st JanuaryIn Memoriam: Richard Whiting 1920-2017, passed away recently aged 96. Son of Arthur Whiting 1880-1953 and brother of Arthur Clemson Whiting 1904-1977 and Freda Evelyn Whiting 1909-1992 , Richard was born in Haverhill and kindly helped in supplying information for this site on several occasions.2016

Died: September 1909 in Haverhill. Buried on 10th September 1909 at Haverhill Cemetery.(4,5)

Bio: Alice appears on the 1871 census living with her mother at the home of her parents John and Susannah Whiting in Chauntry Croft. At the time of the next census in 1881 she is a scholar living in Eden Road, Haverhill with her mother and grandfather John, who was now a widower. Also living with them is Daniel Purkis, who would become her step-father.

Alice had an illegitimate daughter, Grace, on 27th July 1888.(3) The 1891 census shows Alice working as a drabbett weaver and living with her daughter, mother and step-father at 17 Eden Road, Haverhill.

Alice featured in the The Bury and Norwich Post when she was witness to a fatal trap accident on 5th July 1894.

Mr C F Freeman, 41, solicitor, had been driving into Birdbrook from Haverhill when his dog-cart was involved in a collision with a trap belonging to Mr John Price. The horses of both vehicles collided and Mr Freeman was thrown out and subsequently died.

'Alice Whiting, a factory hand, living in Eden Road, who was coming from Vale Place at the time of the accident, said she saw Mr Freeman and his wife driving on the croft side, and witness and her friends were walking by their side; it was dark. She saw the trap coming down in the centre of the road. One of the gentlemen in her company, Mr Easeman, of Manchester, called out, 'Hi! Hi!' to Mr Price. The traps were then close. She was dressed in white. When the collision occured she was about three yards off. Her friend ran and got hold of Mr Freeman's horse. She could not say if the deceased jumped or fell out. Mr Freeman was on the croft side, and Mr Price in the middle of the road. - John William Iron, butcher, stated that he was coming from his home in Guilford Yard, about 11.15, when he saw Mr Price's cart passing. He heard someone halloa 'Look Out!' and heard the collision. He ran down at once, the distance being about 25 yards, but Mr Price's cart had gone. The trap driven by Mr Price was in the middle of the road when going past him. It was very dark. He did not see Alice Whiting. - By Mr. Salmon (for Mr Price): He should have seen a white dress if there had been one.' (6)

Alice remained at Eden Road for the next ten years, and when her step-father Daniel died early in 1901, Susannah Maria became head of the household. The 1901 census shows Alice working as a cotton weaver, and her daughter Grace is now 12 years old.

Alice was to died in 1909 at the age of only 39. The occupation given on her burial entry is factory worker, but there are no clues as to how she died.